Karaoke system with built-in camera

ABSTRACT

A karaoke system with built-in camera includes a decoder, a camera system, and a video selector. The decoder (e.g., a CDG decoder) receives data from a disc and provides a first video signal having graphics, e.g., for lyrics of a selected song. The camera system captures an image of a live scene and provides a second video signal. The video selector combines the first and second video signals to obtain a third video signal and can provide the first, second, or third video signal (e.g., based on user control) as an output video signal. A color eliminator can filter out a designated frequency (e.g., for a designated color such as blue) in the first video signal to provide a better output image for the third video signal. The decoder and camera system are synchronized with a common vertical timing signal and further use a common oscillator signal.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of provisional U.S. application Ser.No. 60/511,851, entitled “Karaoke System with Built-in Camera,” filedOct. 15, 2003, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entiretyfor all purposes.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates generally to consumer electronics, andmore specifically to a karaoke system.

Karaoke singing has become a popular entertainment activity in homes andcommercial establishments throughout the world. A karaoke systemgenerates background music for a user-selected song from a disc andallows one or more users to sing along with the music via one or moremicrophones. The karaoke system mixes the vocals from the users with thebackground music and provides an output audio signal that contains amixture of the user vocals and the music. The output audio signal istypically played via a speaker for listening pleasure of the users aswell as any audience that may have gathered for karaoke.

The karaoke system normally also has a video unit as well as the audiounit. The video unit generates lyrics for the user-selected song anddisplays the lyrics on a screen. This allows the users to sing along,even if the users do not know the words to the song, by scrolling thelyrics across the screen. The lyrics are often highlighted in a mannerto cue the users as to when each word of the lyrics should be sung. Thevideo unit may also receive or generate pre-recorded graphics, videoimages, and/or video for display along with the lyrics.

Since karaoke singing is a form of entertainment, it is highly desirableto capture the excitement and enhance the experience of users andaudience gathered together for karaoke.

SUMMARY

A karaoke system with built-in camera is described herein. This karaokesystem can capture the excitement of a live scene with the camera toenhance the experience of those gathered for karaoke.

In a specific embodiment, the karaoke system comprises a decoder, acamera system, and a video selector. The decoder (e.g., a CDG decoder)receives data from a disc and provides a first video signal havinggraphics defined by the data. This graphics can be for lyrics of a songselected by a user. The camera system, which may be implemented on aComplementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) integrated circuit (IC),captures an image of a live scene and provides a second video signal.The video selector combines the first and second video signals to obtaina third video signal and can provide the first, second, or third videosignal (e.g., based on user control) as an output video signal. Thedecoder and camera system are synchronized based on a common framesynchronization input signal that provides vertical timing for the firstand second video signals. The decoder and camera system further use acommon oscillator signal to generate color subcarriers for their videosignals.

The karaoke system may further include a color eliminator, amplifiers,and a control unit. The color eliminator receives the first videosignal, filters out a designated frequency (e.g., for a designated colorsuch as blue), and provides a filtered first video signal. Theamplifiers amplify the filtered first video signal and the second videosignal and provide amplified video signals, which are combined by thevideo selector to obtain the third video signal. The control unitprovides various controls for video and audio units within the karaokesystem. For example, the control unit may enable the camera system toadjust the brightness of the image under certain conditions andotherwise disables the camera system from adjusting the brightness.

Various aspects, embodiments, and features of the invention aredescribed in further detail below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a karaoke system with built-incamera;

FIG. 2 shows a functional block diagram of the karaoke system;

FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of a noise filter and amplifier and acolor eliminator;

FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of a camera system;

FIG. 5 shows a schematic diagram of video buffers and a video selector;and

FIG. 6 shows horizontal timing for a video signal generated by thekaraoke system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example,instance, or illustration.” Any embodiment or design described herein as“exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred oradvantageous over other embodiments or designs.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a karaoke system 100with a built-in camera. Karaoke system 100 is encapsulated in a casingthat is dimensioned to be of a convenient size and shape for ease oftransport and placement. This allows karaoke system 100 to be placed,for example, on top of a home television, next to a computer monitor, inan entertainment system, and so on. In general, karaoke system 100 maybe of any form factor, size, and shape.

Karaoke system 100 includes a CDG system 120 that can read a CD (compactdisc) disc or a CDG (CD+graphics) disc. A CD disc contains only music. ACDG disc contains music as well as graphics, which may be for lyrics ofthe songs contained in the CDG disc. The lyrics may be read from the CDGdisc and displayed on a blue (or any other color) background insynchronization with the music. The lyrics are also often highlighted ina manner to signal when the words should be sung. A CDG disc, however,contains no moving video in the background.

Karaoke system 100 further includes a camera system 130 that can capturean image of a live scene. This live scene may be of a person singing infront of the karaoke system, a gathering of people in a room where thekaraoke system is located, and so on. Camera system 130 may beimplemented in various manners. For the embodiment shown in FIG. 1,camera system 130 is encapsulated in a unit that may be flipped up toactivate the camera system and flipped down to hide and protect thecamera system. Camera system 130 may also be mounted in other manners,and this is within the scope of the invention. For example, camerasystem 130 may be mounted (1) on a swivel so that the camera can berotated to capture scenes around the room or (2) on a ball joint so thatthe camera can be pointed in any direction.

Karaoke system 100 has easily accessible knobs 142 for various audio andvideo controls such as audio volume control, left/right balance control,and so on. A display 146 provides a simple display of the track numberof the CD or CDG being played. Input and output jacks 148 are providedon the side, in the back, and possibly in the front (not shown inFIG. 1) for input and output audio signals and input and output videosignals. For example, two microphone inputs may be provided on the side,and output audio/video signals may be provided in the back.

FIG. 2 shows a functional block diagram of an embodiment of karaokesystem 100 with built-in camera. A controller 210 receives variousinputs (e.g., from knobs 142 and buttons 144) and provides variouscontrols for the processing units within karaoke system 100. A memoryunit 212 provides storage for code and data used by controller 210 andpossibly other processing units within karaoke system 100.

Within CDG system 120, a CD mechanism 220 reads data from a CD disc or aCDG disc via a CD lens and provides disc data to a CD servo system 222.CD servo system 222 processes the disc data and provides various signalsto other circuit blocks. For example, CD servo system 222 provides CDGsub-code data to a CDG decoder 224. The CDG sub-code data may include(1) a clock signal used by CDG decoder 224 for decoding/decompression,(2) data for graphics in a video signal, and (3) an SFSY signal thatcontains control data and other information used fordecoding/decompression. CD servo system 222 also provides left and rightaudio signals, A_(Lcdg) and A_(Rcgd), to an auto voice control (AVC)mute circuit 276.

CDG decoder 224 receives the CDG sub-code data from CD servo system 222,decodes the CDG sub-code data, and generates a graphics video signal,V_(cdg). The graphics video signal may contain, for example, lyrics fora song in the CDG disc. In an embodiment, CDG decoder 224 is implementedwith integrated circuit (IC) chips and additional circuitry. Forexample, these IC chips may include Toshiba TC-9411F and Oki 514256C ICchips, which are commercially available.

A noise filter and amplifier (Amp) 240 receives the V_(cdg) video signalfrom CDG decoder 224 and provides a filtered and amplified graphicsvideo signal, V_(lpf). The noise filter removes digital noise in theV_(cdg) video signal, which may be generated by CDG decoder 224. Theamplifier enhances the filtered graphics video signal, which is reducedin amplitude after the noise filtering.

A color eliminator 242 receives the V_(lpf) video signal and, whenenabled by a CEenb control signal, removes (i.e., suppresses oreliminates) a designated color (e.g., blue) in the V_(lpf) video signaland provides a color-eliminated graphics video signal, V_(ce). TheV_(ce) video signal has most of the designated color removed. The V_(ce)video signal is subsequently merged with a camera video signal, V_(cam),from camera system 130 to obtain a composite video signal, V_(comp), asdescribed below. Removing the designated color from the V_(ce) videosignal results in a better output image on a television screen for thecomposite video signal. Color eliminator 242 provides a buffered versionof the V_(lpf) video signal if it is not enabled by the CEenb controlsignal. Thus, color eliminator 242 provides a V_(ce/lpf) video signal,which may be either the V_(ce) video signal (with the designated colorremoved) or the V_(lpf) video signal (without the designated colorremoved) depending on the CEenb control signal.

A video buffer 244 receives the V_(ce/lpf) video signal from coloreliminator 242, amplifies the V_(ce/lpf) video signal to obtain theproper signal level, and further buffers the amplified video signal toprovide the proper signal drive and impedance level for a conventionaltelevision. Video buffer 244 also provides isolation and prevents videosignals from flowing backward. More specifically, when a first videosignal is combined with a second video signal, the video buffer for thefirst video signal prevents the second video signal from flowing back tothe source of the first video signal, and vice versa. Video buffer 244provides to a video selector 246 an amplified graphic video signal,V_(buf), which may or may not have the designated color removeddepending on the CEenb control signal.

A buffer 226 receives an oscillator (OSC) signal and a framesynchronization input (FSI) signal from CDG decoder 224. The OSC signalis the clock signal used by CDG decoder 224 to generate the colorsubcarrier and color bursts for the graphics video signal, V_(cdg). TheFSI signal is a vertical timing signal used by CDG decoder 224 togenerate the vertical video lines for the graphics video signal. Sincethe graphics video signal from CDG decoder 224 and the camera videosignal from camera system 130 are subsequently combined into one videosignal, these two units should be synchronized with the same colorcarrier phase and line timing so that the color and lines from these twounits are aligned. For the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, CDG decoder 224is the master unit and its OSC and FSI signals are also used by camerasystem 130 for synchronization with CDG decoder 224. Buffer 226amplifies each signal to obtain the proper signal level, buffers eachamplified signal, and provides the buffered FSI and OSC signals, FSI′and OSC′, to camera system 130. In alternative embodiments, camerasystem 130 may be the master unit and CDG decoder 224 may be slaved tocamera system 130, or another master unit may drive both CDG decoder 224and camera system 130.

When the camera is enabled, an automatic (auto) white balance adjustmentalgorithm 230 within camera system 130 automatically adjusts the whitebalance of the image in the V_(cam) video signal generated by camerasystem 130. The auto white balance adjustment may also be referred to asbrightness adjustment, intensity adjustment, and so on. This auto whitebalance adjustment may be desirable if the camera video signal isdisplayed by itself. However, the camera video signal may subsequentlybe merged with the graphics video signal. If the auto white balanceadjustment is not disabled, then camera system 130 will perform the autowhite balance adjustment continuously. In that case, when the color ofthe graphics video signal changes, the white balance of the image on thetelevision screen will also change and may cause the screen to becomeunstable. Since users are normally annoyed by fluctuation in theintensity on the screen, the auto white balance adjustment is disabled,for example, once the karaoke system starts playing the CDG tracks.

A control unit 228 receives a CDG signal from CDG decoder 224 andcontrols the operation of color eliminator 242 and camera system 130.The CDG signal indicates whether or not CDG decoder 224 is reading a CDGdisc. CDG decoder 224 sets the CDG signal to a low amplitude when CDGservo system 222 is reading a CDG disc and to a high amplitudeotherwise. If control unit 228 receives a low CDG signal, indicatingthat a CDG disc is being read, then control unit 228 allows buffer 226to provide the FSI signal to camera system 130, disables the auto whitebalance function of camera system 130, and enables color eliminator 242to remove the designated color from the V_(cdg) video signal. If controlunit 228 receives a high CDG signal, indicating that a CD disc or nodisc is being read, then control unit 228 prevents buffer 226 fromproviding the FSI signal to camera system 130, enables the auto whitebalance function of camera system 130, and disables color eliminator 242so that the designated color is not removed from the V_(cdg) videosignal. When reading a CD disc that contains no graphics, the cameraoutput is provided as the video output and is not superimposed on anygraphics. When reading a CDG disc, the camera output is superimposedwith the graphics from the CDG disc, and the auto white balanceadjustment is disabled to prevent the screen from changing rapidlyand/or becoming too light or too dark. The auto white balance adjustmentfunction is enabled when karaoke system 100 is first turned on until andunless a CDG disc is read.

Auto white balance adjustment algorithm 230 adjusts and calibrates theimage device sensitivity on the primary (RGB) colors to match the colorcast of the light source. The auto white balance adjustment is one ofthe built-in function of the CMOS IC for camera system 130. The autowhite balance adjustment algorithm operates as follows. After karaokesystem 100 is turned on or is reset, the CMOS IC performs the auto whitebalance until it reaches balance level. The CMOS IC continues to performthe auto white balance when it is powered on and adjusts to changes inthe light level of the ambient area. The auto white balance function isdisabled if a CDG disc is played. If control unit 228 receives a low CDGsignal from CDG decoder 224, then control unit 228 sends the appropriatecontrol to disable the auto white balance function within the CMOS IC.On the other word, when karaoke system 100 is turned on and before auser starts to play a CDG disc, the auto white balance function isenabled. Once the user starts to play a CDG disc, the auto white balancefunction is disabled. When the user stop to play the CDG disc, the autowhite balance is enabled again.

Camera system 130 includes a built-in camera and associated videoprocessing circuitry. The built-in camera has a lens that captures animage of the scene in front of the camera. The video processingcircuitry then processes the image and provides the V_(cam) videosignal, which contains the image captured by the built-in camera. TheV_(cam) video signal is a composite video signal with just the imagecaptured by the built-in camera. Camera system 130 may be implementedwith a camera CMOS IC such as, for example, an OV7910 or an OV7930 colorCMOS analog camera chip from Omni Vision (™). The use of a CMOS camerachip for camera system 130 provides various benefits such as low cost,smaller area, greater reliability, less power consumption, and so on.

A video buffer 234 receives and buffers the camera video signal fromcamera system 130 and provides an amplified camera video signal,V′_(cam). Video buffers 234 and 244 also provide isolation between theV_(cam) video signal and the V_(ce/lpf) video signal so that (1) theV_(ce/lpf) video signal does not feed through to the V_(cam) videosignal, when these two signals are combined by video selector 246, andbleed into a Camera Out output, and (2) vice versa.

A video selector 246 receives the V_(buf) video signal from video buffer244 and the V′_(cam) video signal from video buffer 234. Video selector246 provides an output video signal (V_(out) or Video Out) which may be(1) the graphics video signal with the lyrics (i.e., the V_(buf) videosignal), (2) the camera video signal with the image captured by built-incamera 130 (i.e., the V′_(cam) video signal), or (3) the composite videosignal with both the lyrics and image (i.e., a V_(comp) video signal).The V_(comp) video signal is generated by merging the V_(buf) andV′_(cam) video signals. The determination of which video signal toprovide as the output video signal may be determined by a user, bypre-configuration, and so on. Depending on a video selection controlsignal, C_(sel), the output video signal may be relatively static or mayjump dynamically from video signal to video signal.

The output video signal is typically connected to a television so thatthe user can see on the television screen what has been selected (e.g.,lyrics, image, or both lyrics and image). The camera video signal (orCamera Out) may also be provided to a VCR (or DVD recorder) and used torecord the image without the lyrics.

Karaoke system 100 can superimpose the graphics video signal from CDGdecoder 224 on top of the camera video signal from camera system 130.This allows the lyrics from a CDG disc to be displayed on the imagecaptured by camera system 130. The camera video signal can capture theexcitement of users and audience gathered within a room for karaoke.Showing this captured image on a television screen can enhance theexperience of those in the gathering. Superimposing the lyrics over thecamera image can (1) allow the singer(s) to see how he/she/they performwithout missing the lyrics, (2) allow the singer to read the lyrics andthe audience to see the live scene on the same screen at the same time,which can bring extra fun to the karaoke experience.

The video and audio portions of karaoke system 100 is described below.The video processing units within karaoke system 100 may be implementedin various manners. Exemplary designs for these units are describedbelow.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of an embodiment of noise filter andamplifier 240 and color eliminator 242. Noise filter and amplifier 240includes an input buffer 310, a noise filter 320, and an amplifier 350.The graphics video signal, V_(cdg), is provided to the base of an NPNtransistor 312. Noise filter 320 is implemented with resistors 322 and330, capacitors 324 and 328, and an inductor 326, as shown in FIG. 3.Noise filter 320 removes digital noise generated by CDG decoder 224.Two-stage amplifier 350 is implemented with an NPN transistor 352, a PNPtransistor 362, and resistors 354, 356, 358, 364 and 366, which arecoupled as shown in FIG. 3. The first stage has a gain determined by theratio of resistors 354 to 356. The second stage has a gain determined bythe ratio of resistors 366 to 364. Resistor 358 provides feedback forthe two stages to improve linearity.

Color eliminator 242 eliminates or suppresses the designated color(e.g., blue) from the graphics video signal so that a clearer picturewith both the lyrics and image is displayed on the television screen forthe composite video signal, V_(comp). Color eliminator 242 isimplemented with an inductor 378 and capacitors 380 and 382, which arecoupled as shown in FIG. 3. Inductor 378 and capacitors 380 and 382 forma trap filter having a very low impedance (almost ground) for certainfrequency (e.g., the designated color) and a nominal impedance for otherfrequencies (other colors). The designated color may be blue or someother color which may either be pre-set or adjusted by the user. Theresonant frequency of the trap filter is determined by the values ofinductor 378 and capacitors 380 and 382 and may be adjusted withvariable capacitor 380. The trap filter may be enabled by closing aswitch 376 and disabled by opening the switch with the CEenb controlsignal. NPN transistor 372 and resistor 374 also provide buffering forthe V_(ce/lpf) video signal, which may or may not have the designatedcolor removed.

FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of camera system 130. A2-dimensinonal array 410 of photodiodes converts incoming light intocharge. A row decoder 412 selects one row of photodiodes at a time basedon a control signal from a clock/timing generator 440. Column senseamplifiers 414 convert the charges in the selected photodiodes intovoltages. An analog processing unit 420 processes the signals from senseamplifiers 414 and provides component signals. For example, analogprocessing unit 420 may perform color separation, automatic gain control(AGC), gamma correction, black level calibration, aperture correction,luminance and chrominance processing, filtering, and so on. A videoencoder 430 converts the component signals from analog processing unit420 into a composite video signal, which is provided as the camera videosignal, V_(cam).

Clock/timing generator 440 receives the buffered OSC and FSI signalsfrom buffer 226 and generates various controls for row decoder 412,analog processing unit 420, and video encoder 430. A control unit 450receives the auto white control signal C_(abc) and possibly other inputcontrol signals and controls the operation of analog processing unit 420and video encoder 430. Control unit 450 implements auto white balanceadjustment algorithm 230 and adjusts the white balance under thespecific IC pin setting. As noted above, camera system 130 may beimplemented with a CMOS camera chip.

FIG. 6 shows the horizontal timing for a video signal generated bykaraoke system 100. In general, the video signal may be an NTSC or PALsignal. For an NTSC signal, each horizontal line of active video has thetiming shown in FIG. 6. The vertical timing for the video lines in thevideo signals from CDG decoder 224 and camera system 130 is determinedby the FSI signal. The color subcarrier and color bursts are generatedfrom the OSC signal and has a frequency that is one quarter of thefrequency of OSC signal.

FIG. 5 shows a schematic diagram of an embodiment of video buffers 234and 244. Video buffer 234 is implemented with a PNP transistor 522,resistors 512, 514, 524, and 528, and a capacitor 526, which are coupledas shown in FIG. 5. Resistor 514 provides termination for the cameravideo signal from camera system 130, which is designed to drive astandard television or video monitor. PNP transistor 522 and resistor524 implement an emitter follower that buffers the camera video signaland drives subsequent circuitry. Since the emitter of PNP transistor 522is a low impedance source, the V_(buf) video signal is prevented fromflowing backward and affecting the V_(cam) video signal. Capacitor 526and resistor 528 provides a source impedance for video buffer 234.

Video buffer 244 is implemented with a PNP transistor 552, capacitors542 and 556, and resistors 544, 554, and 558, which are coupled as shownin FIG. 5. Capacitors 542 and 556 provide AC coupling. PNP transistor552 and resistor 554 implement an emitter follower that buffers theinput video signal and drives subsequent circuitry. Since the emitter ofPNP transistor 552 is a low impedance source, the V′_(cam) video signalis prevented from flowing backward and affecting the V_(ce/lpf) videosignal. Resistor 558 provides a source impedance for video buffer 540.

FIG. 5 also shows an embodiment of video selector 246. Video selector246 receives the V_(buf) video signal from video buffer 244 and theV′_(cam) video signal from video buffer 234. Within video selector 246,a summer 562 combines (or merges) the V_(buf) and V′_(cam) video signalsto obtain the composite video signal, V_(comp). The V_(buf) and V′_(cam)video signals may also be combined in other manners. For example, theV_(buf) video signal may be multiplexed as the output video signal forcertain video lines and the V′_(cam) video signal may be multiplexed asthe output video signal for other video lines. A multiplexer 564receives the V_(buf), V_(comp), and V′_(cam) video signals and theC_(sel) video selection control signal from controller 210. Based on theC_(sel) control signal, multiplexer 564 provides one of the three videosignals as the output video signal, V_(out).

Referring back to FIG. 2, karaoke system 100 also includes an audioportion. A microphone amplifier 270 receives input audio signals fromtwo microphones, A_(m1) and A_(m2), amplifies each input microphonesignal, combines the two amplified microphone signals, and provides acombined microphone signal, A_(m). Microphone amplifier 270 may also bedesigned to receive one input audio microphone signal, or to receive andcombine more than two input audio signals.

An echo system 272 simulates echo effect in the combined microphonesignal. This may be achieved by (1) delaying the combined microphonesignal by different amounts of delay to obtain different delayedversions of the combined microphone signal, (2) scaling the differentdelayed versions by different gains (e.g., lower gain for greater amountof delay) to obtain scaled and delayed versions of the combinedmicrophone signal, and (3) combining the scaled and delayed versions toobtain an echo signal, A_(e). Echo system 272 provides the echo signalhaving echo effect. The echo effect may be turned off or reduced bygetting the gains for greater delays to zero or low values.

An AVC system 274 controls the combining of the combined microphonesignal, A_(m), from microphone amplifier 270 with the left audiosignals, A_(Rcdg), from CD servo system 222. When AVC system 274 isactivated and a microphone signal is received, AVC system 276 mutes(partial mute, depended on the VR knob) the right audio signal from CDservo system 222 so that the combined microphone signal can be providedon the right audio channel. The user can control the amount of muting byturning a knob (e.g., one of knobs 142 in FIG. 1). AVC system 274provides a mute control signal, C_(avc), for muting the right audiochannel for AVC.

AVC mute circuit 276 receives the echo signal, A_(e), from echo system272 and the left and right audio signals, A_(Lcdg) and A_(Rcdg), from CDservo system 222. AVC mute circuit 276 combines the echo signal witheach of the left and right audio signals and further mutes the rightaudio channel if directed by the mute control signal. AVC mute circuit276 provides A_(Ll) and A_(Rl) audio signals.

A volume balance unit 278 receives the A_(Ll) and A_(Rl) audio signals,adjusts the amplitude of each of the two audio signals based on abalance control signal, C_(bal), and provides adjusted left and rightaudio signals, A_(Lb) and A_(Rb). The user may manipulate the balancecontrol signal (e.g., with one of knobs 142 in FIG. 1) so that theleft/right balance is suitably adjusted.

A system mute circuit 280 receives the A_(Lb) and A_(Rb) audio signalsfrom volume balance unit 278 and mutes both audio channels if indicatedby a reset control signal, C_(reset). For example, the audio signals maybe temporarily muted when karaoke system 100 is first powered on orreset. Mute circuit 280 provides final right and left audio signals,A_(Lf) and A_(Rf).

An audio buffer 282 receives and buffers the final left and right audiosignal from mute circuit 280 and provides an output audio signal, AuxOut, for the left and right channels. A power amplifier 284 alsoreceives and amplifies the final left and right audio signal from mutecircuit 280 and provides a speaker output signal, Speaker Out, for aspeaker and an output audio signal, Headphone, for a headphone jack. Theamplification may be in accordance with a loudness setting that may beadjusted by the user.

The karaoke system described herein may be used with various discformats such as CD, CDG, SCDG, MP-3, DVD, and so on. Different discformats may be supported through the use of different decoders. Theother video processing units within karaoke system 100 (e.g., noisefilter and amplifier 240, color eliminator 242, buffers 234 and 244, andvideo selector 246) can perform the same processing to provide thedesired output video signal, regardless of the disc format.

The karaoke system described herein may be implemented by various means.For example, the video and audio processing units for the karaoke systemmay be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination thereof. Fora hardware implementation, the processing units may be implementedwithin one or more application specific integrated circuits (ASICs),digital signal processors (DSPs), digital signal processing devices(DSPDs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), field programmable gatearrays (FPGAs), processors, controllers, micro-controllers,microprocessors, other electronic units designed to perform thefunctions described herein, or a combination thereof.

Portions of the karaoke system may also be implemented in software. Forexample, the controls for various processing units may be implementedwith modules (e.g., procedures, functions, and so on) that perform thefunctions described herein. The software codes may be stored in a memoryunit (e.g., memory unit 212 in FIG. 2) and executed by a processor(e.g., controller 210).

The previous description of the disclosed embodiments is provided toenable any person skilled in the art to make or use the presentinvention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readilyapparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles definedherein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from thespirit or scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention is notintended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to beaccorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novelfeatures disclosed herein.

1. A karaoke system comprising: a decoder operative to receive data froma disc and provide a first video signal having graphics defined by thedata; a camera system operative to capture an image of a live scene andprovide a second video signal; and a video selector operative to combinethe first and second video signals to obtain a third video signal and toprovide the third video signal as an output video signal.
 2. The karaokesystem of claim 1, wherein the video selector is operative to providethe first, second, or third video signal as the output video signalbased on a control signal.
 3. The karaoke system of claim 1, furthercomprising: a color eliminator operative to receive the first videosignal, filter out a designated frequency, and provide a filtered firstvideo signal, and wherein the video selector is operative to combine thefiltered first video signal with the second video signal to obtain thethird video signal.
 4. The karaoke system of claim 3, wherein thedesignated frequency corresponds to a designated color.
 5. The karaokesystem of claim 4, wherein the designated color is blue.
 6. The karaokesystem of claim 1, wherein the decoder and the camera system aresynchronized based on a common frame synchronization input signal thatprovides vertical timing for the first and second video signals.
 7. Thekaraoke system of claim 1, wherein the decoder and the camera system usea common oscillator signal to generate color subcarriers for the firstand second video signals.
 8. The karaoke system of claim 1, furthercomprising: a control unit operative to enable the camera system toadjust white balance of the image and disable the camera system fromadjusting the brightness of the image.
 9. The karaoke system of claim 8,wherein the control unit enables the camera system to adjust the whitebalance of the image when the karaoke system is powered on and notplaying a CDG disc.
 10. The karaoke system of claim 1, furthercomprising: a first amplifier operative to amplify the first videosignal and provide an amplified first video signal; and a secondamplifier operative to amplify the second video signal and provide anamplified second video signal, and wherein the video selector isoperative to combine the amplified first and second video signals toobtain the third video signal.
 11. The karaoke system of claim 1,wherein the camera system is implemented on a CMOS (complementary metaloxide semiconductor) integrated circuit.
 12. The karaoke system of claim1, wherein the graphics on the first video signal if for lyrics of asong.
 13. The karaoke system of claim 1, wherein the graphics on thefirst video signal are for graphics, pictures, symbols, or anycombination thereof.
 14. The karaoke system of claim 2, wherein thecontrol signal is indicative of user-selection for the first, second, orthird video signal as the output video signal.
 15. The karaoke system ofclaim 1, wherein the disc is a CDG (compact disc+graphics) disc.
 16. Amethod of providing an output video signal from a karaoke system,comprising: processing data from a disc to obtain a first video signalhaving graphics defined by the data; capturing an image of a live scenewith a camera system to obtain a second video signal; combining thefirst and second video signals to obtain a third video signal; andproviding the third video signal as the output video signal.
 17. Themethod of claim 16, further comprising: filtering out a designatedfrequency from the first video signal to obtain a filtered first videosignal, and wherein the filtered first video signal is combined with thesecond video signal to obtain the third video signal.
 18. The method ofclaim 16, further comprising: enabling the camera system to adjust whitebalance of the image for a particular operating scenario; and disablingthe camera system from adjusting the white balance of the image afterthe particular operating scenario.
 19. The method of claim 16, furthercomprising: receiving a user-selection for the first, second, or thirdvideo signal; and providing the first, second, or third video signal asthe output video signal based on the user-selection.
 20. An apparatuscomprising: means for processing data from a disc to obtain a firstvideo signal having graphics defined by the data; means for capturing animage of a live scene to obtain a second video signal; means forcombining the first and second video signals to obtain a third videosignal; and means for providing the third video signal as an outputvideo signal.
 21. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising: meansfor filtering out a designated frequency from the first video signal toobtain a filtered first video signal, and wherein the filtered firstvideo signal is combined with the second video signal to obtain thethird video signal.
 22. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising:means for enabling the camera system to adjust brightness of the imagefor a particular operating scenario; and means for disabling the camerasystem from adjusting the brightness of the image after the particularoperating scenario.